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Top prospects for the 2025 NHL Draft lead the USA to victory

Top prospects for the 2025 NHL Draft lead the USA to victory

The United States dominated its opening competition at the 2025 World Junior Championship thanks to one of the top prospects for the 2025 NHL Draft. The U.S. team faced Germany in its first Group A game of the tournament and outperformed the Germans. Thanks to a stunning WJC debut for center James Hagens, the Americans won their first game 10-4.

17-year-old James Hagens looked like a seasoned USA veteran in his first game of the tournament. USA head coach David Carle made a wise decision to play Hagens alongside his two Boston College teammates, Gabe Perreault and Ryan Leonard, and the team was dominant on nearly every shift. Hagens stole the show for the trio and the USA by scoring two goals and two assists for four points.

The New York native scored the first goal for the USA. After defenseman Cole Hutson’s shot attempt was blocked by the German goalkeeper in the narrow net, Hagens managed to find the puck in the mass of bodies and send it just over the goal line.

Hagens then set up Team USA’s second goal by feeding winger Gabe Perreault for his first of two goals of the game. It took less than a period of action for the 2025 draft-eligible forward to make his presence felt.

He also got his team back on track after the German team seemed to lose momentum. With the USA’s lead dwindled to just one goal, Hagens decided to give it a try himself and sank an absolute rocket shot to give his team a two-goal lead again. They carried on from there and Germany struggled to stay competitive.

All in all, Hagens scored four points and made an impressive and convincing debut. For any NHL organization keeping a close eye on these games, it’s performances like these that shoot you up the rankings and convince teams to take you at the top of the draft. Hagens has already announced his presence and the US team is ready to compete at the 2025 Junior World Championships.

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